October 1, 2011

I Meditate NY has created an urban meditation series for the BMW Guggenheim Lab to be held every Saturday at 10 am from August 6 until October 15. This series introduces meditation to empower participants to contemplate what “comfort” means to them. It provides a technique for examining the inner environment to enhance the outer environment. Sessions aim to challenge comfort zones and provide a tool to create sustainable comfort: comfort that comes from within and goes with you. Each session includes an introduction to meditation.

The ability of people of different races and cultures to live together in cosmopolitan cities is a triumph. We are constantly mediating a tug-of-war between deep-seated instincts for fear and trust. Where do these instincts come from? How can we build more convivial cities and lives? Join psychologist Emanuele Castano, expert of social identification, and empathy, and neuroeconomist Paul Zak, who studies the chemistry of connection, morality and happiness in an exploration of the science and mystery of terror and kindness in cities.

“Battle for Brooklyn shows, up close and dirty, just how large a role developers play in defining the forms and functions of the urban landscape.” —Spacing Toronto

The critically acclaimed film Battle for Brooklyn is an intimate look at the community fight against the Atlantic Yards megaproject. Filmed over seven years, it follows opposition leader Daniel Goldstein, whose home sits in the way of the proposed basketball arena. Tackling issues of urban planning, eminent domain, community, and the nexus of developers and government, the epic tale will open your eyes and put you on the edge of your seat.

How do human beings understand space and place? How do our surroundings influence our feelings and behavior? Colin Ellard, research psychologist at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, and author of You Are Here: Why We Can Find Our Way to the Moon, but Get Lost in the Mall, delves into the neuroscience behind space and direction. Ellard's presentation will combine theory with case studies and hands-on demonstrations.

York, organized by Audio Visual Arts (AVA) and comedian Greg Barris. Acoustic experts and sound artists will collaborate with comedians to explore the beauty, danger, and potential of the New York soundscape, addressing issues of noise pollution, noise prevention, sonic comfort levels, and quiet zones along the way. There will be sonic demonstrations. There will be audience participation. There will be music, and there will be laughs.